Dozens of militants attacked a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan early today, sparking a three-hour battle that left two police officers dead and five injured.

Police said there were also casualties among the militants, but they did not know how many.

The pre-dawn attack took place near the border of the Khyber tribal region, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants have hideouts.

Police said more than 70 militants attacked the checkpoint overnight, but police pushed them back. Hours later before dawn, the militants came back armed with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons and attacked again, but were eventually repulsed.

Militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have stepped up attacks in Pakistan after the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces in the country on May 2.compiled from agency reports